Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb will forever be noted by film fans as the last movie Robin Williams appeared in. I can respect that and although it is not his finest hour, it is certainly not his worst. In fact,Williams, as Teddy Roosevelt, generates some genuinely touching moments. Of all the displays that have come to life, Roosevelt has always been there to help Larry out of his latest pickle.

Speaking of Larry, this time his pickle goes international when he discovers from Ahkmenrah, the ancient Egyptian Prince, that the magic which has been bringing everything to life is wearing away. Larry, Ben Stiller, travels to a London museum with Ahkmenrah, Teddy, the monkey and a few other wax friends to find Ahkmenrah’s father and see if they can replenish the magic before it is gone for good.

Larry is also accompanied by his, now grown, son Nick. They have been having some issues as Nick is not keen on going to college as Larry so wants him to. If Hollywood has taught us anything it is that a snappy adventure can bring two people together and create clearer perspectives.

In the London museum, Larry and company must do battles with new displays that have come to life for the first time as well as get help from Sir Lancelot. The jokes are all family oriented with the monkey notably getting great reaction from the kiddies in my theater. Rebel Wilson is also funny as a lonely guard who falls in love with a Neanderthal, also played by Stiller. One of my favorite jokes is when they finally find Ahkmenrah’s father, played by Ben Kingsley, who commands Larry to, “Kiss my staff!” An uncomfortable Larry responds, “Oh, uh... is it okay if I don't?”

The most notable absent character is that of Amelia Earhart, played with such comic gusto by Amy Adams in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. There are however, still some wonderful cameos thrown in. I know my brother Patrick will be thrilled to see Mickey Rooney in a quick scene. Dick Van Dyke busts some serious dance moves for an 88 year old. “I still got it.” He proudly tells Larry. The funniest cameo belongs to Hugh Jackman and a confused Lancelot. You have to see it.

Not only does this film provide some laughs but it has some touching moments as well. Larry and the monkey share a scene that caused some in the audience to audibly awe with sadness. There is also the scene of Jebediah and Octavius holding hands. My favorite moment and one that may affect Robin Williams' fans the most is when the sun is about to come up and Teddy says goodbye to Larry for the final time.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a wonderfully imaginative family film. It is full of adventure as Larry goes to great lengths to save his eclectic group of friends. Sometimes things become a bit too ridiculous for even this series. It is a fantasy film, so just excuse the fact that hundreds of people see things that are impossible to explain yet no one calls the authorities. This is a film for children and any adult who can still appreciate a “G” rated adventure.

Eric, our opinions of these movies seem to be moving in the opposite direction. You disliked the first film, while I enjoyed it. We both enjoyed the second film. And now regarding this final (for now) installment, you thought it was a wonderfully imaginative family film and I can think of no better words to describe it than these, "The screen is full of lots of action and characters in motion but nothing of interest is going on. Everyone is just moving round for the sake of moving around." The very words you used to describe the original.

With a few exceptions, the jokes all feel tired and retreaded. The monkey was cute in the original, but the best the writers can come up with for him to do this time around is to piss on Jedediah and Octavius. Now there's a metaphor for the whole movie. And if that one doesn't work for you, how about this one, the characters are all running out of life because the magic is dying. Even taking the show on the road, which worked so well for the second film, fails to help this time around.

Stiller and the other mainstays are clearly in "cash the check" mode and seem rather bored. Or maybe I was just projecting my own emotion on to them, it's hard to tell. Stiller certainly seems more awake as Laaa than he does as Larry. The poignancy of Williams' goodbye is purely coincidental and has everything to do with his recent death rather than anything in the film. The "poignent" ending, complete with wistful glances from Stiller and swelling music is completely over-the-top.

Rebel Wilson is one of the few new faces and she certainly tries hard enough to get some laughs even though her success rate is pretty dismal. Her lines feel improvised and if that's true, she should have kept trying. Dan Stevens as Lancelot is the only other major new character. His presence isn't that amusing, but it does lead to the film's funniest scene, the one Eric mentioned, involving Huge Ackman.

To be fair, the two very young boys sitting behind me in the theater seemed to enjoy this movie. So Eric's close. This is a film for very young children or any adult with the mind of a very young child, who can still appreciate a "G" rated adventure.

I'm with Scott on this one. The final installment in the Night at the Museum trilogy is a disappointment. Most of its jokes aren't funny and even the cast seems tired and listless. The one exception being the scene at the old folks home featuring Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, the ex-security guards at the Museum of Natural History. I would have enjoyed it far more if the entire movie had focused on them instead of the rehashed uninspired story we get.

Mickey Rooney died just a few weeks after filming his scenes. He was 93 and had been making movies since the silent era! To be honest the only reason I even saw this movie was to say farewell to one of my all-time favorite movie stars. His one brief scene comes early in the movie so I'm sure it colored my opinion of the rest of it. I agree with Eric that Robin Williams final farewell is quite poignant. Both he and Rooney will be sorely missed.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is strictly for the kiddies, unless of course, like myself, you simply want to share one final nostalgic scene with one of Hollywood's all-time greats. Rest in Peace Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams.